Shear settling in laminar open channel flow: analytical solution, measurements and numerical simulation

Abstract

In beaching of tailings, sand and clays may segregate. In laminar flow this is due to shear settling. First implementations of shear settling in numerical flow models are seen, offering unprecedented potential to conduct tailings management studies. In order to validate numerical codes, reference materials are necessary. For laminar flow, there is a small set of flume tests available from an earlier study. An analytical solution for transient sand concentration profile development with distance in laminar open channel flow appeared recently. This analytical method is more complete than an analytical model developed earlier at the author's institute. Data and analytical solutions are analysed and applied to serve for the validation of numerical flow simulation of beaching in tailings storage facilities. Fair agreement is observed between measurements and the analytical method. Moreover, fair agreement is obtained between an earlier produced computational outcome of the numerical model Delft3D-slurry and analytical solution. This contributes to building confidence in this model as an aid in supporting tailings deposition management.

Houska Based Time-Dependent Rheological Model for Flocculated Tailings

“…With τ = 100 Pa, we exploratively investigate what the role of irreversible shear down on beach flow of f-MFT might be. In this case, the value of b is: 100/300 E-3= 0.0003, i.e., substantially smaller than b of the reversible part (Table 1), but of similar order as applied in the time-reversible calculations in Talmon et al (2023). Calculations were conducted for discharge flow rates at the inlet of 0.1, 0.2 and 1 [m 2 /s].…”

“…Two alternative ways to capture the rheological time-dependency of oil sands in flow calculation have now been explored: reversible (Mizani et al, Talmon et al, 2023) and a combination of partly reversible and irreversible (current paper). Both approaches are able to mimic existing rheometry tests, but incorporation of rheomalaxis seems the more appropriate, as it is consistently reported for polymer amended tailings.…”

Computational Fluid Dynamics Study of the Effects of Drill Cuttings on the Open Channel Flow

“…e Sanders et al [15] and Spelay's [5] experimental studies involve coarse sand slurries in an open channel flow. Treinen [16] and Talmon et al [17] studied shear settling in laminar open channel flow numerically.…”